Smith Gambrell & Russell

Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP has one of the longest standing and largest aviation legal practices in the world, well known for its broad industry knowledge and dedicated aviation practitioners.

The aviation practice of Smith Gambrell commenced in 1927 with its representation of the predecessor to Eastern Airlines and began to prosper alongside the ascent of Eastern Airlines. For over 60 years, Smith Gambrell served as Eastern's general external legal counsel and represented the airline in virtually all aspects of its business until its sale to Texas Air in 1989. During the years since its inception, Smith Gambrell's Air Transport Industry Group has greatly broadened its industry representation to include other airlines, finance and operating lessors, financiers, aviation equipment owners, managers and investors, aviation joint ventures and joint venture partners, maintenance repair and overhaul facilities and aircraft teardown/part-out companies.

Smith Gambrell recently expanded its aviation practice with the addition of a well-seasoned team of aviation lawyers based in the United Kingdom and working from offices in London and Southampton. In addition to bolstering the Air Transport Industry Group's expertise in its core areas of practice, the UK team brings substantial additional capabilities in Middle East and Asia based transactions and allows the group to provide full English law representation.

The extensive experience of the Air Transport Industry Group attorneys in the New York, London, Atlanta, Southampton, District of Columbia, Austin, and Jacksonville offices allows Smith Gambrell to offer clients a broad scope of industry knowledge, effective representation and industry-respected practitioners.

Besides accolades from the likes of Chambers USA and Airfinance Journal Deal of the Year Awards for transactions in which our lawyers have acted as lead counsel, our lawyers serve in industry leadership positions, including on the International Registry Advisory Board for Aircraft Objects (created pursuant to the Cape Town Convention), the American Bar Association Governing Committee of the Forum on Air & Space Law, the Chair of the American Bar Association Aircraft Financing Subcommittee and the Chair of the Georgia Aerospace Policy Working Group of Georgia Department of Economic Development. Our lawyers also serve as law school adjunct professors and guest lecturers with regard to aviation matters.